Bugs Bunny - Private Eye
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Bugs Bunny - Private Eye is as special as Daffy Duck, as they are both from the same company, both have the same artist and both are unreleased due to the sad demise of Hi-Tec back in 1992. They were even in development around the same time.

The thing is, Daffy Duck was finished just before Hi-Tec bit the bullet, and Bugs Bunny was pretty much there, but too early for review. Otherwise Bugs Bunny would have had the Zzap review treatment, and become one of GTW's most wanted titles as well.

Not much was ever known about the game, until recently when GTW got in contact with Nick Taylor by chance to ask about some other titles. It was then discovered that Nick was the programmer of the game.

After some questions, it was discovered that the game still existed and is infact complete, like Daffy Duck. Shocked?... Well, Nick told GTW that he kept all his disks, but we persued to get in touch with Dave Palmer and ask about the game.

After some big searching by Dave, the game has been found!.. Complete, but only missing music and final bug testing. Dave Palmer has kindly passed Bugs Bunny onto GTW and has allowed us to release the game for the first time. However, this game is not to be distributed for any profit, and is distributed on GTW freely. We also acknowledge the copyright of the characters to Warner Bros. If you want to know what Dave is up to now, he is still developing games under David A. Palmer Productions for various platforms.

The game consists of Bugs Bunny making his way through a scrolling set of 4 levels, where you had to collect items and carrorts, jumping around platforms. The aim is to find items of evidence on each level, then finally a key to unlock a door at the end of the level. At the end of each level you must catch the culprit on camera using a photograph flash. You also have photo flash abilities to fend of and freeze enemies. Bugs can also dig underground in true Dig Dug style and go into caves, which is quite neat!

Originally when Nick was told that the game was never released, he was surprised as he got fully paid and the game was complete.

But for the first time, GTW is proud to present the exclusive release of this long lost game into its archives...

Eeeeerrre!.... Whats Up Doc?...

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Nick Taylor speaks to GTW about 'Bugs Bunny'...

"Bugs Bunny will exist, I have amassed a very significant retro collection over the years and ensured that I retained all my source code disks, PDS dev system etc - Bugs Bunny is there somewhere..

As for the game, I can't make my mind-up if it was based on a spec from Hi-tec or based on another format (Amiga or ST?), I thought the later.

It was a 4 way scroller where you had to collect items/carrots through a combination of jumping on platforms when above ground or digging underground into caves (dig-dug style) when underground.. I think there were around 5/6 quite big levels with a bonus game at the end of each.

I worked (and lived with) Ash & Dave for a while and we knocked out a number of games for Hi-tec and Codemasters, was certainly good fun. Ash did all the graphics and Dave and I tended to work on separate projects - Daffy Duck was one of Dave's, Bugs Bunny was one of mine.

I thought Bugs Bunny had been released?!? Maybe not.. Pretty sure it was completed though, sure I got paid :)"


http://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/bugs-bunny/
